The New York Giants will look to snap their losing streak when they take on the Baltimore Ravens at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
The Giants put together a late comeback attempt in last week's matchup against the New Orleans Saints, but a blocked field goal as time expired led to a 14-11 loss. While the Ravens are coming off their bye, they last took the field in Week 13 when they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-19.
With only four games remaining on the 2024 schedule, Sunday's game is one of the team's final two outings at MetLife Stadium (Week 17 vs. Colts). The Giants will be on the road in Week 16 (Atlanta) and in the season finale (Philadelphia).
Here are five storylines to follow heading into the Week 15 matchup.
DeVito likely to start
When talking to the media ahead of Wednesday's practice, coach Brian Daboll announced that quarterback Drew Lock is in a walking boot due to a heel injury suffered against the Saints on Sunday. Lock did not practice on Wednesday and is unlikely to on Thursday, according to the head coach. This puts Tommy DeVito in line to receive all of the practice reps with the first-team offense this week before likely starting his second game of the season this Sunday against the Ravens.
"I would not say he's doing great," Daboll said about Lock. "He's in a boot. He has a heel (injury). He won't practice today. He won't be out on a practice field today. Can't tell you if he'd be ready to go right now. So, Tommy will get all the reps."
Daboll later added about Lock, "I don't think he'll go today. Can't see him going tomorrow. Hopefully Friday we can see whether or not he can end up being a two or a three. But, not there yet as of today."
In addition to the heel injury, Lock was also listed on the injury report with a left elbow injury.
DeVito started his first game of the season back in Week 12 when the Giants hosted the Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium. The second-year signal-caller completed 67.7 percent of his passes, but for only 189 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also sacked four times while adding seven rush attempts for 32 yards.
Baltimore's pass defense has struggled at times this season. The unit is surrendering a league-high 264.9 passing yards per game, while their 23 passing touchdowns allowed are tied for the seventh-most in the NFL. However, opponents are completing just 64.6 percent of their passes against the Ravens, which ranks as the 14th-lowest.
View photos of the Giants on the practice field at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (17)
RB Devin Singletary (26)
RB Eric Gray (20)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Kearis Jackson (81)
DB Greg Stroman Jr. (30)
TE Greg Dulcich (89)
S/ILB Isaiah Simmons (19)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
CB Azizi Hearn
CB Adoree' Jackson (21)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
RB Eric Gray (20)
CB Dee Williams (33)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Isaiah Hodgins (18)
ILB Darius Muasau (53)
ILB Micah McFadden (41)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
DB Greg Stroman Jr. (30)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29)
S Jason Pinnock (27)
QB Tim Boyle
WR Darius Slayton (86)
RB Dante Miller (25)
QB Tommy DeVito (15)
WR Darius Slayton (86)
TE Jordan Murray (83)
TE Daniel Bellinger (82)
WR Kearis Jackson (81)
TE Chris Manhertz (85)
QB Tim Boyle
WR Kearis Jackson (81)
Injury updates
In addition to Lock, left guard Jon Runyan is dealing with an ankle injury suffered against the Saints. The veteran did not practice on Wednesday, and Daboll said he doesn't think he will make it this week. Right tackle Evan Neal is also dealing with right ankle and hip injuries, which forced him to miss Wednesday's practice.
Offensive tackles Jermaine Eluemunor (quad) and Chris Hubbard (knee) were both able to practice in a limited capacity. Daboll said Eluemunor has made "good progress" and he is "more optimistic" about his chances of playing this week. As for Hubbard, Daboll said they will have to see how the practice week goes.
Additionally, wide receiver Malik Nabers, who suffered a hip flexor injury in practice last week, was on the practice field to open the week. "Hopefully he'll just keep progressing," Daboll said.
Moving over to the defense, several starters did not participate in Wednesday's practice session, including cornerback Dru Phillips (shoulder) and linebacker Bobby Okereke (back). Phillips and Okereke both missed Sunday's game against the Saints due to their respective injuries. The same goes for defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches (neck/shoulder), although Daboll said he is "getting better."
Cornerback Cor'Dale Flott was added to the injury report on Saturday with quad and knee issues, and although he was active for the game, he did not play a single snap. The third-year cornerback was able to practice in some capacity on Wednesday. Meanwhile, fellow cornerback Deonte Banks (rib) has not played since Week 12 against the Buccaneers, but Daboll said the young corner is "making progress."
Roster updates
The Giants made numerous roster moves on Tuesday, starting with cornerback Tre Hawkins being placed on injured reserve due to a back injury. In a corresponding move, the Giants signed cornerback Greg Stroman off their practice squad. Hawkins made his first start of the season this past Sunday and picked up the team's first interception since the season opener while adding six tackles (four solo). Stroman was out of practice squad elevations after being promoted from the practice squad three times.
The Giants also added four players to their practice squad: quarterback Tim Boyle, who was released on Saturday, two weeks after he was signed; defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, who played in 44 games with three starts for Houston, Minnesota, Jacksonville, and Tennessee from 2020-23; cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe, who played in six games for the 2023 Kansas City Chiefs, and cornerback Azizi Hearn, who has never played in an NFL regular-season game.
The Giants also designated center Jimmy Morrissey as practice squad/injured.
The roster moves continued on Wednesday when safety Tyler Nubin was placed on injured reserve due to the ankle injury he suffered against the Saints. Heading into Week 14, Nubin was tied with Bobby Okereke for the most tackles on the team after he had missed just two defensive snaps all season. His rookie season will end with 98 total tackles (57 solo), four tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed.
Center Austin Schlottmann, who has spent the entire season on injured reserve after breaking his leg in the preseason, was designated to return to practice.
Additionally, the Giants signed cornerback Divaad Wilson from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Wilson originally signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He has played in four games with one start over the last two seasons and has totaled five tackles (four solo).
The Giants also signed offensive tackle Jalen McKenzie to the practice squad. McKenzie has yet to appear in a game after going undrafted in 2022.
View photos of every move made by the Giants during the 2024 cycle.
CB Divaad Wilson - Free Agent Signing from ARZ Practice Squad (December 11)
S Tyler Nubin - Reserve/Injured (December 11)
C Austin Schlottmann - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 11)
T Jalen McKenzie - Practice Squad (December 11)
CB Greg Stroman - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 10)
CB Tre Hawkins - Reserve/Injured (December 10)
DL Ross Blacklock - Practice Squad Veteran (December 10)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (December 10)
CB Ekow Boye-Doe - Practice Squad (December 10)
CB Azizi Hearn - Practice Squad (December 10)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad; Injured (December 10)
DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 7)
DL Elijah Garcia - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (December 7)
DL D.J. Davidson - Reserve/Injured (December 7)
QB Tim Boyle - Waived, No Recall (December 7)
T Tyre Phillips - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 7)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (December 7)
DB Dee Williams - Claimed off Waivers from SEA (December 6)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (December 4)
DT Cory Durden - Free Agent Signing from LAR Practice Squad (December 2)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Reserve/Injured (December 2)
TE Theo Johnson - Reserve/Injured (December 2)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 27)
DL Armon Watts - Reserve/Injured (November 27)
T Joshua Miles - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 27)
CB Greg Stroman Jr. - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 27)
TE Greg Dulcich - Claimed off Waivers from DEN (November 26)
OLB Azeez Ojulari - Reserve/Injured (November 26)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exemption (November 26)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Activated, from Reserve (November 23)
QB Tim Boyle - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 23)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (November 23)
QB Daniel Jones - Waived, No Recall (November 23)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Designated for Return / Returned to Practice (November 20)
TE Jordan Murray - Practice Squad (November 20)
T Tyre Phillips - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
QB Tim Boyle - Practice Squad Veteran (November 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Garret Greenfield - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 19)
T Joshua Miles - Practice Squad Veteran (November 12)
T Joshua Miles - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (November 12)
K Graham Gano - Activated from Injured Reserve (November 9)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 9)
CB Art Green - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (November 6)
C Bryan Hudson - Practice Squad (November 6)
P Matt Haack - Practice Squad Veteran (November 6)
K Graham Gano - Designated for Return/Returned to Practice (November 6)
CB Nick McCloud - Waived, No Recall (November 5)
P Matt Haack - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (November 5)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (November 2)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (November 2)
K Greg Joseph - Reserve/Injured (November 2)
K Jude McAtamney - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (November 2)
T Marcellus Johnson - Practice Squad (October 30)
T Garret Greenfield - Practice Squad (October 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 30)
S Gervarrius Owens - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 29)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
CB Greg Stroman - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 28)
OLB Boogie Basham - Practice Squad Veteran (October 24)
DL Armon Watts - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (October 22)
OLB Boogie Basham - Waived, No Recall (October 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 19)
OT Chris Hubbard - Free Agent Signing (from SF Practice Squad) (October 18)
OT Andrew Thomas - Reserve/Injured (October 16)
DT Armon Watts - Practice Squad Veteran (October 15)
CB Duke Shelley - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 15)
P Matt Haack - Free Agent Signing (October 12)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux - Reserve/Injured (October 12)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 12)
OLB Benton Whitley - Practice Squad (October 8)
G Cade Mays - Signed to CAR Active Roster from NYG Practice Squad (October 8)
ILB Matthew Adams - Activated from Injured Reserve (October 5)
OLB Benton Whitley - Waived, No Recall (October 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
RB Dante Miller - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 5)
LB Matthew Adams - Returned to Practice (October 2)
WR Kearis Jackson - Practice Squad (October 1)
CB Greg Stroman - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
TE Joel Wilson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
DB Alex Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE Lawrence Cager - Terminated (Injury Settlement) from Practice Squad (October 1)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
CB Duke Shelley - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 25)
LB Ty Summers - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 25)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 24)
TE Joel Wilson - Practice Squad (September 24)
TE Lawrence Cager - Practice Squad; Injured (September 24)
CB Art Green - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Patrick Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (September 17)
K Greg Joseph - Free Agent Signing from DET Practice Squad (September 17)
K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 17)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (September 14)
OLB Tomon Fox - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 14)
WR Chase Cota - Waived, Injury Settlement (September 13)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (September 10)
G Cade Mays - Practice Squad Exception (September 10)
OT Marcellus Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 10)
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette - Free Agent Signing (September 9)
LB Curtis Bolton - Practice Squad Veteran (September 9)
LB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad; Injured (September 9)
LB Ty Summers - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Carter Coughlin - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 7)
LB Curtis Bolton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Practice Squad Veteran (September 6)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 6)
ILB Carter Coughlin - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 5)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 4)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Injury Settlement (September 3)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Practice Squad Veteran (September 2)
WR Miles Boykin - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
CB Adoree' Jackson - Free Agent Signing (August 31)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 31)
S Gervarrius Owens - Practice Squad (August 30)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (August 30)
FB/TE Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (August 29)
C Austin Schlottmann - Reserve/Injured (August 29)
DB Duke Shelley - Practice Squad Veteran (August 29)
DE Elijah Garcia - Practice Squad (August 29)
DB Art Green - Practice Squad (August 29)
LB Curtis Bolton - Free Agent Signing (August 28)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Injured (August 28)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Practice Squad Exception (August 28)
K Jude McAtamney - International Practice Player Signing (August 28)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, OT Joshua Miles, LB Ty Summers - Practice Squad Veteran (August 28)
LB K.J. Cloyd, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, RB Dante Miller, DL Casey Rogers - Practice Squad (August 28)
S Anthony Johnson - Claimed off Waivers from GB (August 28)
S Gervarrius Owens - Waived, No Recall (August 28)
LB Matthew Adams - Reserve/Injured - Designated for Return (August 27)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Reserve/Injured; Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
LB Darrian Beavers, LB K.J. Cloyd, LB Tomon Fox, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, DB Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, C Jimmy Morrissey, DT Casey Rogers, TE Jack Stoll - Waived (August 27)
WR Miles Boykin, TE Lawrence Cager, DB Tre Herndon, WR Isaiah Hodgins, DB Darnay Holmes, FB/TE Jakob Johnson, DB David Long, OT Joshua Miles, OT Matt Nelson, WR Allen Robinson - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 27)
DB Mario Goodrich, G Jalen Mayfield, DE Ovie Oghoufo - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 27)
RB Joshua Kelley - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Breon Borders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 25)
DB Jonathan Sutherland - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
DT Timmy Horne - Waived, Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 25)
WR Ayir Asante, DT Kyler Baugh, DB Christian Holmes, DB Clayton Isbell, WR John Jiles, LB Trey Kiser, RB Lorenzo Lingard, T Marcus McKethan - Waived, No Recall (August 25)
DB Clayton Isbell - Free Agent Signing (August 20)
WR Dennis Houston - Waived/Injured (August 20)
DT Kyler Baugh - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
LB Trey Kiser - Free Agent Signing (August 19)
DL Ryder Anderson - Waived/Injured (August 19)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Injured (August 19)
TE/FB Jakob Johnson - Free Agent Signing (August 16)
TE Tyree Jackson - Waived/Injured, Prior to Cut to 53 (August 16)
RB Joshua Kelley - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Raheem Layne - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
S Jonathan Sutherland - Free Agent Signing (August 15)
DL Jordan Phillips - Traded to Dallas Cowboys (August 15)
S Jalen Mills - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Failed Physical (August 15)
DB Elijah Riley - Reserve/Injured (August 15)
RB Lorenzo Lingard - Free Agent Signing (August 12)
RB Jacob Saylors - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
OT Evan Neal - Passed Physical (August 11)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Waived, No Recall (August 11)
LB K.J. Cloyd - Free Agent Signing (August 11)
CB Christian Holmes - Claimed off Waivers from WAS (August 5)
RB Jashaun Corbin - Waived/Injured (August 5)
CB Mario Goodrich - Claimed off Waivers from PHI (July 31)
CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Terminated, Vested Veteran, Non-Football Injury (July 31)
OL Greg Van Roten - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
CB Aaron Robinson - Waived, Failed Physical (July 30)
DB Breon Borders - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
QB Nathan Rourke - Waived, No Recall (July 28)
TE Theo Johnson - Passed Physical (July 28)
OT Evan Neal - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
CB Aaron Robinson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 23)
DB Jalen Mills - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 23)
TE Theo Johnson - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 16)
RB Jacob Saylors - Free Agent Signing (June 18)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Injured (June 18)
CB Tre Herndon - Free Agent Signing (June 12)
TE Darren Waller - Reserve/Retired (June 10)
S Tyler Nubin - Selection List Signing (May 31)
DB Elijah Riley - Free Agent Signing (May 30)
RB Gary Brightwell - Waived, Injured (May 30)
TE Theo Johnson - Selection List Signing (May 22)
LB Darius Muasau - Selection List Signing (May 15)
CB Dru Phillips - Selection List Signing (May 14)
DL Elijah Chatman - Free Agent Signing (May 13)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Waived (May 13)
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Selection List Signing (May 10)
WR Malik Nabers - Selection List Signing (May 10)
K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (May 10)
WR Ayir Asante, WR John Jiles, DB Alex Johnson, OT Marcellus Johnson, G Jake Kubas, DE Ovie Oghoufo, DL Casey Rogers - Free Agent Signing (May 10)
RB Deon Jackson - Waived, Injured (May 10)
WR Allen Robinson - Free Agent Signing (May 9)
QB Nathan Rourke - Claimed off waivers from New England (May 7)
DB David Long - Free Agent Signing (May 1)
Giants select LB Darius Muasau with No. 183 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. with No. 166 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select TE Theo Johnson with No. 107 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select CB Dru Phillips with No. 70 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select S Tyler Nubin with No. 47 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
Giants select WR Malik Nabers with No. 6 pick in 2024 NFL Draft
DB Nick McCloud - Restricted Free Agent Signing (April 15)
LB Matthew Adams - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 12)
DL Jordan Phillips - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 11)
WR Miles Boykin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
S/LB Isaiah Simmons - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 5)
RB Dante Miller - Free Agent Signing (April 5)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
CB Darnay Holmes - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OT Matt Nelson - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 22)
OL Austin Schlottmann - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
TE Chris Manhertz - Free Agent Signing (March 16)
TE Jack Stoll - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 15)
OL Jon Runyan - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OL Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
RB Devin Singletary - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
QB Drew Lock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
DB Jalen Mills - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR Isaiah McKenzie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
WR/PR Gunner Olszewski - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Carter Coughlin - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
OLB Brian Burns - Acquired via trade with Carolina Panthers (March 13)
LB Benton Whitley - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
LS Casey Kreiter - Signed, Renegotiated Contract (March 12)
G Mark Glowinski - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
WR Chase Cota - Reserve/Future Signing (January 23)
LB Tomon Fox - Reserve/Future Signing (January 10)
DL Ryder Anderson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Yodny Cajuste - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Kaleb Hayes - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
WR Dennis Houston - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
RB Deon Jackson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
ILB Dyontae Johnson - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OLB Jeremiah Martin - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
G Jalen Mayfield - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
OT Joshua Miles - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver - Reserve/Future Signing (January 8)
Run defense gets another big test
The Giants run defense is coming off perhaps its best performance of the year. Going up against a Saints offense that loves to run the football, the Giants were able to limit running backs Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams to a combined 81 yards on 30 rush attempts, good for an average of just 2.7 yards per carry. What made this performance even more impressive is that it came with numerous members of the Giants' front seven sidelined due to injury. The defense was down defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence, Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson, along with linebacker Bobby Okereke, and yet it held the Saints' run game in check.
A big reason for the unit's success against the Saints was the play of inside linebacker Micah McFadden. The third-year inside linebacker had one of the best games of his NFL career in Week 14 as he registered a career-high five tackles for loss, all of which came in the run game. In fact, McFadden stuffed six Saints rushes for no gain or a loss, the most in a game by any defender this season, according to Next Gen Stats, while his 15 run stuffs on the year are now tied for the fifth-most in the NFL.
It remains to be seen if Okereke or Nunez-Roches will be able to return this Sunday, but either way, the Giants are going to need McFadden and the rest of the run defense to again step up in a big way. The Ravens lead the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing yards per attempt, due in large part to Derrick Henry. The veteran back, now in his ninth season, is averaging a career-high 5.9 yards per carry with a league-high 13 rushing touchdowns to go with his 1,407 yards. Henry has also added 13 receptions for an additional 125 yards and two touchdowns. Then there is quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose 6.1 average yards per carry is tied with Saquon Barkley for the most in the NFL.
Trying to contain Lamar
Speaking of the dual-threat quarterback, Lamar Jackson is putting together yet another dominant season. One year after taking home his second NFL MVP award, Jackson is completing 67.0 percent of his passes for 3,290 yards, 29 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Jackson leads all quarterbacks with a 116.3 passer rating on the season, in addition to his 8.7 yards gained per attempt.
In terms of his rushing, Jackson is up to 678 yards on the ground to go with his 6.1 yards per rush attempt and three rushing touchdowns. Put it all together and Jackson is playing like one of the best players in the league, something Daboll acknowledged on Wednesday.
"This guy's one of the best players, not just best quarterbacks, best players in the National Football League," the head coach said. "He's dynamic in every facet of the game. If he's running it, then he's not throwing it. If he's throwing, he's not running. He can do it all. He is really a fun player to watch, not when you're getting ready to play him. He's a dynamic, dynamic football player."
Daboll added, "He's a heck of a player. Those quarterbacks that are multidimensional quarterbacks that can hurt you with their arm and their legs, those are tough quarterbacks to defend. There's a number of them that have come out here the last few years that are very difficult to defend. Each year he's played, he's gotten more experience. But he's an extremely gifted individual. He's a headsy player. He's instinctive. The moment's never too big for him. He can make guys miss with his legs. He can scramble for seven, eight, nine seconds and find guys downfield with his arm. Very good in the red zone. He's one heck of a quarterback and one heck of a football player."
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